War tensions have reached a new head as some of new US president Donald Trump’s top aides have talked up war with China.

Steve Bannon, White House chief strategist, said; ""We’re going to war in the South China Sea in five to 10 years.

"There’s no doubt about that. They’re taking their sandbars and making basically stationary aircraft carriers and putting missiles on those.

"They come here to the US in front of our face – and you understand how important face is – and say it’s an ancient territorial sea.”

Meanwhile, a message released by the People’s Liberation Army of China said: “Statement like ‘a war within the President's term' or 'war breaking out tonight' are not just slogans, they are becoming a practical reality